1. IFG Chairs, Edinburgh, 8 February 2018
Sustainability Appraisals: Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore MPAs/SACs & PMFs Management in Scottish Waters
Suzannah Walmsley

2. Overview Overview of the project Timescales
Methodology for commercial fisheries assessment
IFG input

3. Introduction Two Sustainability Appraisals:
1. Fisheries management measures for Phase 2 inshore MPAs/SACs
Management measures for 16 inshore Phase 1 MPAs/SACs were introduced in February 2016
Scottish Ministers want to introduce management measures for a further 7 MPAs and 13 SACs (17 locations)
2. Priority Marine Features (PMFs) management
SNH and JNCC are reviewing protection of PMFs, following damage to flame shell bed in Loch Carron
The review is considering possible management options to ensure protection of the most vulnerable PMFs
PMFs:
 Blue mussel beds (subtidal only)
 Cold water coral reefs [none known outside MPA network]
 Fan mussel aggregations [none known outside MPA network]
 Flame shell beds
 Horse mussel beds
 Maerl beds
 Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers
 Native oysters
 Northern sea fan and sponge communities
 Seagrass beds
 Serpulid aggregations

4. Introduction
Introduction of management measures require a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in line with Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005
As a matter of policy, a socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) is also required
An overall Sustainability Appraisal which incorporates findings from both the SEA and SEIA also needs to be provided in accordance with Marine Scotland practice
- SEA has to be done for any management measures as they could have a potential significant effect on the environment.
SEIA – also feeds into BRIA Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment
The SEA and SEIA feed in to the overall Sustainability Appraisal – summary of both assessments

5. Overview SEA Screening & Scoping Report SEA Environmental Report
Socioeconomic Impact Assessment Report
Sustainability Appraisal
Screening and Scoping – MS done for MPAs & SACs
ABPmer now doing:
- Environmental Report (SEA)
- SEIA
- Screening and Scoping for PMS
Consultation
SEA Post Adoption Statement

6. Timescales Jan-Mar 2018 Apr-June 2018 Jul-Sept 2018 Oct 2018-Mar 2019
SEA, SEIA & SA for MPAs & SACs
Screening & Scoping for PMFs
Consultation
SEA, SEIA & SA for PMFs
Post-Adoption Report for MPAs & SACs
Post-Adoption Report for PMFs
Post adoption report – pulls together consultation responses.

7. Sites MPAs: SACs: Fetlar to Haroldswick East Caithness Cliffs
Monach Isles (MPA & SAC)
Mousa to Boddam
Papa Westray
Small Isles
Clyde Sea Sill
SACs:
Sullom Voe
Dornoch Firth & Morrich More
Moray Firth
North Rona
Papa Stour
Sound of Barra
Loch Moidart (and Loch Shiel Woods)
Sound of Arisaig
Moine Mhor
Isle of May
Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary
Loch nam Madadh .

8. Phase 2 measures - SEIA methodology
Cost to the fishing sector based on value of landings lost as a result of the proposed measures
Based on last 5 years ( ) landings data
Proposals for management measures developed into lower, intermediate and upper scenarios
Intermediate likely to include potential for fishing activity to be displaced, and additional catches made outwith the MPA/SAC
Upper scenario ‘worst case’ – no displacement, value of landings lost
Phase 2 measures were developed in consultation with stakeholders back in 2015
Further detail Marine Scotland in due course

9. Regions Based on previous assessments
Expanded to include Shetland and North Rona SAC

10. Assessing >12m landings affected
VMS data linked to landings returns
Extract value of landings from the area proposed for management (for the specific gear types)

11. Assessing <12m landings affected
Data at ICES rectangle scale
Use Scotmap information to calculate proportion of ICES rectangle value deriving from the area of the management measure
Apply Scotmap proportion to the ICES rectangle data

12. Displacement assessment
Consider value of landings affected in relation to (for the gear type):
Value of landings from the MPA
Value of landings from the ICES rectangle
Value of landings from the region
Use previous thresholds to determine whether affected effort can be absorbed in surrounding area or if more detailed assessment required
Where significant effort is displaced, potential impacts will be considered (qualitative):
On benthic habitats, other species
On the affected fleet segment (fuel cost, working hours)
On other fleet segments (gear conflict)

13. Potential benefits Potential for use of alternative gears:
to catch species currently targeted by gears that will be excluded
for vessels affected to target different species, or to change gear type

14. GVA, social and employment impacts
Value of landings converted to GVA using Seafish economic performance data (fleet segment-specific GVA %s)
Indirect and induced GVA, and employment impacts calculated using multipliers (input-output tables)
Social impacts considered in relation to:
Location
Age
Gender
Income group
Social group
Based on home port and port of landing information, or ports in proximity of the site

15. Process for social and economic analysis
Economic and social impacts in commercial fisheries fits in to wider assessment of social and economic impacts.
Includes assessment of ecosystem services benefits and costs – onsite and offsite – as a result of the measures (and displacement of fishing effort)

16. Limitations
Data availability and resolution, particularly for smaller vessels
Level and pattern of displacement of activity is uncertain
Retrospective – based on previous landings
Doesn’t take into account potential future fishing patterns or effects of stock recovery
Multipliers (indirect and induced GVA impacts and employment effect), relate to ‘Marine Fishing and Freshwater Fishing’ and not the specific gear types affected. National multipliers – not region-specific

17. IFG input Marine Scotland will be convening a workshop (April 2018)
IFG Chairs on the list
Discuss draft outputs of assessments
Review and sense-check
Formal consultation process
Any data, evidence to feed in to process (that meets the relevant data standards)
Validatable, verifiable
Input on displacement assumptions, local socio-economic aspects for individual sites

18. Thank you for your attention
Suzannah Walmsley
+44(0)